Talking-machine motor



M. NYSTROM.

TALKING MACHINE MOTOR. APPLI'CATION FILED AUG-16, 1919.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I I, v

M. NYSTROM.

TALKING MACHINE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1919.,

Patented D60. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZDN a; 4 ,2 2 L r Nv v M. NYSTROM.

TALKING MACHINE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1919.

1,361,17 Patented Dec. 7,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- M. NYSTROM. TALKING MACHINE MOTOR.

- APPLICATION FILED AUGJG, 1919. 1,361,176.

III

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

III

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN NYSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK-BALKE- COLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TALKING-MACHINE MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed May 20, 1918, Serial No. 235,472. Divided and this application filed August 16, 1919. Serial No. 317,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN NYSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Talking-Machine Motors, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 235,472 filed May 20, 1918.

The object of this invention is to overcome the irregularities and inequalities of operation common to spring motors of talking machines and due largely to the tendency of such springs to jump or unwind spasmodically, and to provide a motor which will operate smoothly and evenly and noiselessly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a talking machine motor comprising a plurality of power springs in whlch provision is made for avoidmg any interrup-tion of the operation of the motor in event of one or more of the springs break- Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction of a spring motor especially adapted for talking machines so that it will operate satisfactorily for a long period of time with little or no attention.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention- Figure 1 is atop plan view of the motor and its frame with the top plate or motor board and the record table indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing a part ofthe spindle broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation showing the winding shaft ratchet;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the ratchet mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 8 and 9 are two end members and 10 is a top member which are securely fastened together and constitute the frame of the motor, being more particularly described in my companion application Serial No. 317,884, filed concurrently herewith.

The spindle 11 is supported in lugs 12, 12' on the end member 8 and projects up through an opening in the top plate or motor board 13 and carries the record table 14. The top plate or motor board is fastened securely to the top member 10 of the frame and it has a rearward extension 13' on which the tone arm 15 is mounted. The spindle is provided with a pinion 16 adjacent its lower end which meshes with a spiral gear 17 mounted on the drive shaft 18 ad acent its lower end, said drive shaft being mounted in bearings in the lugs 19, 19' integral with the end member 8 of the frame. The drive shaft is provided with a worm 18 which is located between and meshes with driving gears 20, 20 on the shafts 21, 21 which are supported in bearings 22 in the end members of the frame and carry the barrels 23 which contain the usual operating springs (not shown).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings there are two spring barrels, each of which may contain, one or more springs, preferably two, mounted in opposition to each other on the parallel shafts 21, 21, and the driving gears 20, 20' mounted on these shafts are driven by the springs and in turn actuate the drive shaft 18. Any number of spring barrels may be used which can be properly distributed about the drive shaft but I have found that the two barrels arranged in or substantially in the manner illustrated satisfactorily answer all present requirements for a talking machine motor.

The arrangement of the driving gears 20, 20 on opposite sides of the worm drive shaft and in engagement therewith provides a quiet drive which will eliminate those irregularities and inequalities which result from the jumping or spasmodic unwinding operation of the power springs. This uneven and irregular action of power springs is common to all ordinary spring motors and is a source of much annoyance in talking machine motors. My invention insures an even and regular motion for the drive shaft since it is very improbable that all of the springs will jump at the same time. My invention also enables the continued operation of the machine so long as there is sufficient power to operate one of the driving gears 20 and the spindle through its connections therewith.

A winding shaft 24 is supported in cars 25 on the end member 9 of the frame and is provided with two worms 26 which mesh with worm gears 27 on the spring barrel shafts 21, 21' for winding the springs. suitable handle (not shown) is adapted to be applied to the winding shaft in the usual manner for Winding the springs.

I avoid the noise produced by the locking pawl of the usual ratchet lock mechanism on the winding shaft while the springs are being wound by providing a novel form of ratchet device which is noiseless in operation. This device is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and, referring thereto, 28 is a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on the winding shaft 24 and 29 is the toothed locking pawl which is pivoted at 29 on the end member 9 of the frame and is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel to lock the winding shaft against reverse movement. Spring fingers 30 are pivotally connected by a pin 29 to the free end of the pawl 29 and project laterally in parallel relation on opposite sides of the ratchet wheel and yieldingly engage the same. These spring fingers preferably constitute parts of a clamping member 31 which is secured by the pin 29" on the pawl and consists of a metal strip bent upon itself to embrace the pawl and ratchet and cut away to accommodate the winding shaft and facilitate assembly of the parts. The fingers 30 are provided with indenta tions 30' to insure sufficient frictional engagement with the ratchet wheel and one of the fingers has a projection 30 to engage a stop 31. When the winding shaft is turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, to wind the springs, the ratchet will revolve with the shaft and, by reason of the frictional engagement of the spring finger. with the ratchet wheel, the clamping member will be carried to the right and disengage the pawl from the teeth of the wheel. The movement of the clamping member and pawl is limited by the stop 31 on the frame and therefore when the projection 30" engages this stop the ratchet wheel will continue to turn freely between the spring fingers and free from engagement with the pawl throughout the winding operation. When the springs have been wound sufficiently, or at any time the winding operation is stopped, a slight reverse movement of the ratchet wheel will carry the clamping member to the left by reason of the frictional engagement of the fingers with the wheel, until the pawl is again engaged with the ratchet wheel. It will thus be noted that throughout the winding operation the pawl is free from engagement with the ratchet ernor comprises a sleeve 36 mounted on the shaft 32 and carrying a drum 37 at one end and a collar 38 at the other end thereof. A plurality of governor springs 39 are fastened at one end to the collar 38 and at the other end to a collar 39' fast on the governor shaft, the springs extending through openings provided therefor in the drum. These springs carry weights 40 which are conveniently located for operation within the drum. A speed control lever 41 is pivotally mounted between its ends on the frame at 42. One arm of this lever projects downward adjacent the drum and carries a fork 43 pivoted at 43 on the lever. This fork has two projecting fingers 44 carrying pads. 45 on opposite sides of the governor shaft to engage the drum. By thus pivoting the fork on the lever I provide at all times for engagement of both pads with the drum since it will be readily understood that the fork will adjust itself to any unequal wear or other inequalities in the pads. The other arm of the lever 41 projects outwardly and is split to provide the two fingers 46, 46' which embrace the lower end of a pin 47 projecting upwardly through the top member of the frame and the top plate or motor board and provided with a knurled head 48 and an indicating point 48. Spring 49 on the pin bears. constantly upon the lever 41 to hold the pin in adjusted position. The lower end of the pin 47 is provided with a spiral groove 50 in which one finger 46' travels, this finger being bent to a proper position to fit in the groove. The other finger 46 travels free from the groove against the pin and holds finger 46 in the groove.

By turning the knurled head 48, the lever 41 may be swung on its pivot to carry the pads 45 into position relative to the drum to control the speed thereof. Thus, by turning the head 48 to move the pads farther away from the drum, the motor will be permitted to operate at a higher rate of speed and conversely by moving the pads nearer to the drum the speed of operation of the motor will be reduced.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the lower ends of the spindle and the worm drive shaft are mounted in step ball bearings 51 and 52 which are screw-threaded in openings in the lugs 12 and 19 of the frame end member 8. A bushin 53 is arranged in an opening in the lug 12 just below the top member of the frame and the spindle operates in this bushing. The bushing is provided with an annular groove 54 and one or more passages 55 leading therefrom to permit lubricating oil to flow from the groove through said passage or passages to the spindle. The upper end of the worm drive shaft is provided with a step bearing 56 screw-threaded in the lug l9 and this hearing has an annular groove 57 with one or more passages 58 leading therefrom to admit oil to the ball bearing. A passage 59 in the end member 8 of the frame between the lugs 12 and 19' registers with annular grooves 54 and 57 and an oil supply cup 60 is mounted on said end member 8 and communicates with said passage 59 to supply oil to the upper bearings for the spindle and the drive shaft. I do not find it necessary to provide similar oiling facilities for the lower bearings of these shafts because they receive sufficient lubrication from the gears above them. But I do provide oil tubes 61 for conveying oil to the bearings of the governor shaft from a conveniently located oil cup 62 (Fig. 3). Openings 60' and 62' are conveniently located in the top plate or motor board 13 to permit access to the oil cups 60 and 62.

My invention provides a spring motor of simple and compact construction designed especially for talking machines and which will operate smoothly and evenly under all the usual conditions to which talking machine motors are subjected. The manner of applying the power from the springs to the spindle is an important feature of my invention, not only because the parts will operate noiselessly but" because it produces an even and uniform rotation of the spindle. If there is any jumping or inequality of action on the part of one spring it will be absorbed by the other spring and if the spring or springs in one barrel tend to make one drive gear 20 ump or revolve spasmodically, such irregular movement will not be imparted to the spindle but it will be absorbed, so to speak, by the other gear 20. The spring or springs operating on one side of the drive shaft will absorb any irregularities of operation which might result from spasmodic action of the spring or springs on the other side of the drive shaft and the result is that all jumping and other irregular movements of the springs are entirely eliminated. This is especially important in spring motors used in talking machines because the noise incident to such spasmodic action of the motor is also eliminated.

My invention has also greatly improved the various features of construction and the details thereof to adapt the motor for the special requirements of a talking machine in which the motor is usually concealed from view, inaccessible, and receives little, if any, attention. It is expected to operate in an efficient manner at any time a ter short or long intervals of rest, to start and to stop quicklv, and to be so made that any one, skilled or unskilled, is capable of operating it. My invention answers all of these and other requirements in a highly eflicient manner as has been demonstrated by actual use.

The barrels 23, their contained power springs, the worm driving gears 20, 20 and the worm gears 27 are supported on the respective shafts 21 and 21 in a manner well understood to admit of the winding of the power springs and the imparting of their power to the driving gears 20 and 20'. The term drive shafts designates the elements rotatable with the respective Worm driving gears 20 and 20' and which transmit the force of the power springs thereto.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A talking machine motor, comprising a spindle for receiving and supporting the record table, a shaft paralleling the spindle and geared thereto and provided with a worm, independently spring actuated drive shafts upon opposite sides of the wormshaft and perpendicular thereto, and worm gears fast to the drive shafts and in mesh with the worm shaft, the gearing being in the same plane and its center of meshing contact being on a straight line passing through the axes of the drive shafts.

2. A talking machine motor, comprising a spindle for receiving and supporting the record table, a shaft paralleling the spindle and geared thereto and provided with a worm, independently spring actuated drive shafts upon opposite sides of the worm shaft and perpendicular thereto, worm gears fast to the drive shafts and in mesh with the worm shaft, the gearing being in the same plane and its center of meshing contact being on a straight line passing through the axes of the drive shafts, a winding shaft at one side of the drive shafts and extending at a right angle thereto, gears fast to the winding shaft and adapted to wind the actuating springs of the drive shafts, and means to prevent reverse movement of the winding shaft.

3. A. talking machine motor, comprising a spindle for receiving and supporting the record table, a shaft paralleling the spindle and geared thereto and provided with a worm, a governor mechanism disposed upon the opposite side of the worm shaft perpendicular to and in gear therewith, independently spring actuated drive shafts upon opposite sides of the worm shaft and perpendicular thereto, worm gears fast to the drive shafts and in mesh with the Worm shaft, the

gearing being in the same plane and its center of meshing contact being on a straight line passing through the axes of thedrive shafts, a winding shaft at one side of the drive shafts and extending at a right angle thereto, gears fast to the winding shaft and adapted to wind the actuating springs of the drive shafts, and means to prevent reverse movement of the winding shaft.

4. The combination of a vertically disposed spindle, a drive shaft parallel with the spindle and adjacent thereto, bearings at the lower end of the spindle and shaft, a bearing near the upper end of the spindle and a bearing at the upper end of the shaft, a pinion adjacent the bearing at the lower end of the spindle, a spiral gear adjacent the bearing at the lower end of the shaft and meshing with said pinion a worm on said drive shaft between its ends, a plurality of driving gears operatively engaging said drive shaft worm on opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of power springs for independently operating said driving gears.

5. The combination of a frame, a spindle, a step ball bearing in the frame for one end of said spindle, a bushing in the frame forming a bearing for said spindle adjacent its other end, a drive shaft, step ball bearin in the frame for the ends of said drive sha forming a bearing for the upper part of the spindle and having an annular groove and a transverse passage communicating therewith, a step bearing for the upper end of the drive shaft having an annular groove and a transverse passage communicating therewith, a passage in the frame communicating with said annular grooves, and an oil cup communicating with said passage in the frame.

MARTIN NYSTROM, Witnesses VVM. O. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

